Ms Birch Hamilton:

As Senator Hoey mentioned Sky specifically, just to give an example we estimate Sky's contribution would be very minimal because it would cost the equivalent of what it pays for two Premier League games. Thus it is really a small amount. On the words "giveback" or "tax", a levy may be a very abstract concept to the people in this group but it is a very real thing for our directors. I want to get across to the committee today that this actually a loss because we have given members scenarios of what could be gained here, that is to say, €100 million, but every day, every week and every month that goes by, that is a loss to our industry. It is jobs on which our directors, writer and composers cannot work.

It is disappointing, as someone who works with directors, to get on Zoom calls lately and see everybody in Los Angeles, Vancouver and London. I am happy for them because they are working on really substantial projects, like Marvel films, Disney films and BBC dramas, but I would really love to see Irish talent being able to work in their own country and to harness the raw talent of our creative industry to work in Ireland. One particular director I can think of is doing huge global shows with budgets of €6 million per episode. He has four children. It would be wonderful if he could tuck his children into bed at night because he has been working all over the world for the last five years. We are not being smart about investing in our own talent. We have the talent and we have the capacity to really build this industry, so it is just very disappointing to be on the front line and see the talent leaving. What happens when we invest in our writers and directors? We have "Normal People". Applications to Trinity go up for the first time. There is a boom in applications to Trinity. Sales of the chain worn by Connell, the lead character in "Normal People", exploded. There is a renewal of interest in Ireland again. Kim Kardashian is watching "Normal People". That is what happens when we invest in the talent. We are not doing that right now so there is a real tangible loss every day that goes by, which we feel on the front line. We need significant investment.

We were talking about costs there. Everybody was talking a couple of years ago about "Game of Thrones" being $15 million for one episode and that broke the barrier. Now Disney Plus is averaging $25 million per episode of the "The Mandalorian". That $25 million is approximately more than the entire budget for Screen Ireland. Thus, we are not investing in any meaningful way. We are not at the table in any meaningful way to be able to compete globally and to be able to engage and co-produce.